ADDIS ABABA - A new accord with the Government of Ethiopia will see the World Food Programme (WFP) develop national capacity in managing the Ethio-Djibouti land corridor and port operations.

The Memorandum of Understanding between WFP and the Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority (EMAA) seeks to relieve congestion in the Port of Djibouti and to develop skills and expertise among Government staff.

There are an estimated 2.9 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia. While in the past years, the recurrent drought and other climate-related reasons triggered displacement, conflict has become the main driver in 2018. The number of people displaced from their homes because of inter-communal fighting and political unrest has doubled in the span of one year. As of July, there were 2.1 million conflict -induced Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the country.

Recurrent drought in the densely populated zones of East and West Hararghe has had a severe impact on the food security and overall livelihoods of communities, with failing crops and lack of water and pasture for livestock. This contributes to the two zones accounting for more than 10 percent of both chronic and acute food insecurity in Ethiopia.

ADDIS ABABA - The heads of the United Nations World Food Programme and UNICEF in Ethiopia have made a joint visit to Somali Region of Ethiopia to see firsthand how people affected by recent violence and civil unrest are being assisted.

WFP Country Director, Steven Were Omamo and UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia, Gillian Mellsop visited the regional capital Jijiga on Monday 13 August, where they assessed what further support was needed and emphasized the importance of strong partnerships in improving the situation.

ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food to tens of thousands of people seeking temporary shelter following violent protests in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.

​People fled their homes in the eastern region when violent protests erupted on 3 August. Houses, churches, vehicles and shops were burned, damaged or looted, and WFP was forced to suspend all its operations in the Somali Region. At least 80 people were killed, according to media reports.

NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Saturday 21 July welcomed an historic donation of 33,000 metric tons of rice from the Government of the Republic of Korea. This donation will enable WFP to provide food assistance to more than 1.5 million people, mostly refugees, living in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.

Inflation: In June 2018, the inter-annual general inflation stood at 14.7 percent up 1.0 percentage points from last month. Food inflation increased from 14.9 percent last month to 17.9 percent in June 2018. This could pose a serious risk to food security, generally, and of pricing poor household out of the food market, specifically.

Inter annual inflation stood at 13.7 percent in May 2018, with no change from the previous month. Food inflation, declined from 16.1 percent in April 2018, to 14.9 percent in May. But, inflation and increases in food prices are still high and a main concern for food security of poor households.

Seasonally grain prices increase during the June to August lean season. Belg harvest from July on in SNNPR and central Oromia Belg crop producing areas, should temper the rate of cereal price increases.

Highlights
- Inflation: Inflation declined from the previous month but is still high. General inflation declined from 15.2 in March 2018 to 13.1 percent in April. Food inflation declined from 19.9 percent in March to 16.1 percent in April.